Second Trader Joe's OK'd for Orange County

Store joins another set for Winter Park

A second Trader Joe's is coming to Orange County, and it's planned for busy Sand Lake Road in the Dr. Phillips area.

Orange County commissioners voted 7-0 to approve it Tuesday.

"It looks like it's going to be a fantastic project," said Commissioner Ted Edwards.

Dozens of residents turned out to argue for and against the project, billed as a low-cost neighborhood grocery.

Many supporters had visited other Trader Joe's and said they couldn't wait for its doors to open locally. Another store is under construction on U.S. Highway 17-92 in Winter Park.

The developers said the store, east of South Apopka-Vineland Road, met or exceeded county parking and traffic rules, and they pledged to build both a left-turn and U-turn lane on Sand Lake Road.

Commissioner Scott Boyd, who represents the area, noted that other road studies and fixes are underway there. Opponents said the project would make the area's already bad travel and parking issues worse and that the project's traffic-impact studies were flawed.